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France has now confirmed a major shift in its digital strategy by announcing plans to stop using Microsoft Teams and Zoom across government departments. In their place, France will deploy Visio, a domestically developed video conferencing platform, with full adoption targeted by 2027.
The decision reflects France’s growing focus on digital sovereignty. French officials argue that relying on foreign platforms, especially those operated by United States companies, creates long term risks for public communication systems. These risks include data exposure, service disruptions, and limited national control over essential digital infrastructure.
David Amiel, France’s minister for the civil service and state reform, stated that the goal is to end the use of non European solutions and protect the security and confidentiality of public electronic communications.
Why France Is Moving Away From Microsoft Teams and Zoom
France’s decision to replace Microsoft Teams and Zoom aligns with a broader effort to reduce dependence on foreign software providers. Government leaders view communication tools as critical infrastructure. Control over these systems directly affects how state institutions operate during crises, elections, or geopolitical disputes.
Recent cloud service outages in the United States raised concerns across Europe about service reliability. These incidents highlighted how disruptions outside national borders can affect domestic operations. French officials now see domestic platforms as a way to limit exposure to external failures and foreign legal frameworks.
Security concerns also play a central role. Foreign platforms often operate under laws that allow access requests from non European authorities. France aims to avoid this risk by using platforms governed solely by national and European regulations.
The Visio platform has already undergone a year of testing and currently supports around 40,000 users. This testing phase allowed French authorities to evaluate performance, stability, and security before committing to nationwide deployment. According to Squaredtech.co’s analysis, this phased approach reduces transition risks while giving administrators time to prepare civil servants for the change.
What the Visio Platform Offers and How It Fits France’s Strategy
Visio forms part of France’s broader Suite Numérique initiative. This initiative seeks to replace widely used United States services such as Gmail and Slack with domestically developed alternatives for government use. These tools are strictly reserved for civil servants and are not intended for public or private sector adoption.
Visio includes features that match modern workplace expectations. The platform supports video meetings, real time collaboration, and meeting management tools. It also includes an artificial intelligence powered transcription system and speaker identification feature. These functions rely on technology developed by the French startup Pyannote.
Hosting also plays a critical role in France’s approach. Visio runs on sovereign cloud infrastructure provided by Outscale, a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes. This hosting choice ensures that data remains under French jurisdiction and complies with national security requirements.
Cost reduction represents another major incentive. The French government estimates that replacing Microsoft Teams and Zoom with Visio could save up to one million euros per year for every 100,000 users. Licensing fees for foreign platforms often scale quickly with user growth. By using a state backed solution, France aims to control long term expenses more effectively.
What This Shift Signals for Europe’s Digital Future
At Squaredtech.co, we view France’s move as a signal of broader changes across Europe. Governments increasingly question heavy reliance on United States technology providers. Rising geopolitical tensions and concerns about foreign surveillance push states to rethink how they manage sensitive communications.
France’s strategy emphasizes national control, predictable costs, and regulatory clarity. While Microsoft Teams and Zoom remain popular across private businesses, France’s decision highlights a growing divide between public sector needs and commercial convenience.
The transition will take several years, with full deployment scheduled by 2027. During this period, training, infrastructure upgrades, and system integration will determine the project’s success. If Visio proves reliable at scale, it may serve as a model for other European governments exploring similar paths.
In our assessment, replacing Microsoft Teams and Zoom with Visio represents more than a software change. It reflects France’s commitment to safeguarding state communications and asserting control over digital infrastructure. As Europe continues to debate sovereignty and security, this decision positions France as one of the most assertive voices pushing for national solutions in critical technology systems.
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